Coil-spring trap.



To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

JAMES DAWKINS, lOF YAGER, CALIFORNIA.

COIL-SPRING TRAP.

Be it known that I, JAMES DAWKINS, a

. citizen ofthe United States, residing at Yager, linthe county of Humboldt and State of California,"havefinvented a new and useful Coil-Spring'rap, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to animaltraps ofthe type commonly designated jawtraps, and it relates more particularly to the construction of thev spring or springs for f actuating the jaws.

One of the objects of the invention is to so construct the springs that they serve as vfeet by which the trap as a vwhole canvbe stably supported, thereby reducing to a minimum the liability of the ,trap being overturned accidentally vbyan animal or snapped without entrapping the same. v

A further object is to construct the springs so that -they will have in addition to their principal yfunction of snapping the jaws the function lof 'imparting to the trap an upward movementv during the act of snapping, so as to grip lthe leg of an animal at a point higher than is possible with jaw-clamps as usually constructed; and another object is to provide a trap of this character which is impossible of closing except by an animal touching the treadle or pan thereof and in which the springs are of Such a nature that they can be readily hidden or covered vfrom view of the animal.

yWith these objects in view and others, as will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, 4the same comprises various novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, toy be hereinafter fully described, and set forth with the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one of theembodiments of the invention, Figure 1 is a perspective yview of the trap, showing the same in set position. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the jaws in closed position. v

Corresponding parts in both figures are indicated throughout by similar characters of reference. j

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a base-plate of a trap to which is secured the centrally-arranged cross-plate 2 and the end standards 8. Pivoted on the standards are the jaws o r gripping members 4 of the trap. Pivoted on the cross-plate is the pan or treadle 5, that is held in raised position by the latch 6. These parts constitute a well- .Specieaton of Letters Patent. Application' Eea June 14,1906. Serial No. 321.729.

part-icularity in Patented oct. 23,1906.

known construction and form none of the novel features of the present invention eX- cept in so far as they combine with the special form of springs hereinafter to'be described.

yExtending from one or both ends of the base-plate are radiating legsby which the trap is supported von the ground. Hitherto it has beenthe custom to place 4the trap so as to rest with the lbase-plate thereof on the ground. As this forms a very narrow base lfor thevtrap, the latter was subjectgto being readily turned over by an animal accidentallystriking the saine. These legs are preferably formed by the springs that actuate the Vj aws of the trap'. Each Spring comprises,

preferably, a single length of wire 7 of suitable gage and resiliency and plated with a noncorrosive plating, so as to'endure the action of the elements. Each wire is turned at its center into an eye 8, that is disposed so as to engage around the upright portions 9. of the jaws. From the ring each half of the wire extends outwardly and downwardly vto a suitable distance, where it is coiled, as indicated at 10, to increase the elasticity of the Spring. From the coiled portion 10 of each half of the spring the wire continues b ack to the standard andis secured thereto by the eye 12, formed at the terminal of the wire. `By this construction a single piece of wire constitutes two of the supporting-legs, and the entirety constitutes a spring formed of two V-'shaped portions lying one above the other and connected by the coils 10. The upper VIshaped portion of the spring readily yields, so as to permit the jaws of the trap to be opened, and are held under tension by the latter. When the latch of the trap is opened by the panvbeing depressed, the springs operateto quickly snap the jaws.

As shown in Fig. 2, the outer ends of the legs rest on the ground, so that the trap has a large and effective supporting-base, thus making it comparatively stable, and at the same time being yieldingly or resiliently supported it cannot be sprung or tipped over by the animal stepping 'on the jaw. Moreover, when an animal steps on the treadle the entire body of the trap is depressed to release the jaws; but even though the weight of the animal should be removed immediately from the treadle in an eifort to avoid the consequences of releasing the jaws, and no matter how quick this actionon the part' of the animal may be the yielding supports will cause the trap to rise, and thus follow the foot of the IIO f animal and grip the leg as high as though the foot had been allowed to remain on the treadle with the weight imposed thereon. The yielding feature, in other words, causes the jaw to follow the leg ofthe animal and insure a hold which will be effective, whereaswith a stationary trap, or one which is not adapted to yield in the way indicated, the movement of the foot ofV the animal after touching the treadle may be so quick as to withdraw it almost, if not entirely, from the path of the jaws.

From the above description it will be seen that the springs,while being of the best construction to perform the functions described, also permit of their being readily concealed from view by reason of their skeleton-like structure, whereby they can be buried in grass, leaves, or the like.

I have described the principle of operation of the invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is merely illustrative and that the invention can be carried out by other means.

What is claimed isl. An animal-trap, comprising a supporting structure, jaws mounted thereon, a device for locking the jaws open, and relatively stationary legs extendingoutwardly in such a relation to the structure as to support the same close to the ground.

2. An animal-trap, comprising a supporting structure, jaws mounted thereon, a device Jfor locking the jaws open, and resilient members forming permanent legs for supporting said structure at opposite ends.

3. An animal trap, comprising a supporting structure, jaws mounted thereon, a device for locking the jaws open, and a pair of legs at each end of the structure and extending permanently therefrom in an outward direction close to a horizontal plane for increasing the effective base of the trap.

4. An animal-trap comprising a supporty ing structure, jaws mounted thereon, a device for locking the jaws open, and a wire device for closing the jaws and supporting the said structure.

5. An animal-trap, comprising a supporting structure, jaws mounted thereon, a device for locking the jaws open, and a spring attached to the supporting structure which closes the jaws and forms supporting-legs eX- tending outwardly from one end of the said structure.

6. An animal-trap comprising a supporting structure, jaws mounted thereon, a device for locking the jaws open, and a spring coniposed of a single length of wire bent into two V-shaped portions, one of which is attached to the structure and the other lfree Afor closing the jaws.

7. An animal-trap comprising a supporting structure, spaced standards, jaws mounted on the-standards, a locking device ior the jaws, and a spring for actuating the jaws comprising a single piece of wire having its central portion arranged in cooperativo relation to the jaws, and its ends attached to the supporting structure with the body portion bent into the form of a V.

8. In an animal-trap oi the jaw type, a spring comprising a single length of wire bent into two substantially similar portions each forming legs, and coils connecting the two portions.

9. In an animal-trap of the jaw type, a spring comprising a single length of wire bent into two substantially similar portions forniing two diverging legs, coils at the outer ends of the legs connecting the portions, and an eye on one of said portions for engaging the jaws of the trap.

10. In an animal-trap of the jaw type, a spring comprising a single length of wire bent into two superposed V-shaped portions connected at their ends by coils, an eye on one of the portions for actuating the jaws of" the trap, and means on the other portion for attaching the spring to the trap.

11. In an animal-trap, a pair of' jaws, an elastic supporting means for the jaws arranged. and adapted to yield downwardly when the jaws are open, a treadle, and a device coperating with the treadle for releasably holding the jaws open.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as vmy own I have hereto a'lixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES DAVVKINS.

Witnesses:

J. S. BURNELL, LIZZIE BARRY. 

